RN Programs in Iowa
Becoming a registered nurse in Iowa is a great place to enter into the medical field. Iowa has a severe nursing shortage, so much so that RN programs in Iowa have trouble graduating enough students to keep up with the growing demand.
RN schools in Iowa are recruiting heavily for nursing students to try and increase enrollment and help elevate the strain the nursing shortage has on the health care in the state. Iowa RN programs can be difficult to get into because of the shortage of nursing educators, those who graduate from nursing programs in Iowa find work quickly upon graduation.
When you know what is involved in becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) in Iowa, you have the information to make a good career decision. RNs are needed across the country and in Iowa. Although the work is often demanding, RNs are compensated with salaries that are higher than those for many other careers. Students have the option of completing either a two-year Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Both programs qualify graduates to take the exam to become licensed RNs.
RN Licensure in Iowa
RNs must be licensed to work in the state. After completing an accredited RN program, they must apply for licensure. Before the license is issued, the graduate must pass the NCLEX-RN exam.
Iowa RN Registry
Iowa Board of Nursing
River Point Business Park
400 S.W. 8th Street, Suite B
Des Moines, IA 50309-4685
RN Jobs and Salary in Iowa
Registered nurses are needed in Iowa’s home health care agencies, skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, doctor’s offices, and clinics. Iowa’s most in demand jobs are concentrated in its more populated areas like Des Moines, Davenport, and Cedar Rapids. Registered nurses in Iowa earn an average wage of $24.97 hourly, and $51,930 annually.
Iowa’s best-known and largest employers of registered nurses include:
Allen Memorial Hospital — Waterloo
Covenant Medical Center – Waterloo
Department of Veterans Affairs – Iowa City
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – Waterloo
Mary Greeley Medical Center – Ames
Mercy Hospital in Iowa City – Iowa City
RN Programs in Iowa
Each RN program has its own requirement for admission. Some programs are very competitive and admit only students who have high school college preparatory classes. This is especially true of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs, but some Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) programs also have these high standards for admission. Programs also usually require satisfactory GPAs in these high school classes, plus satisfactory SAT scores. Usually a minimum SAT score of 1000 is required. ACT scores are expected to be at least 20 or 21.
Students desiring to pursue an RN career who do not meet the strict admission requirements have several other ways to pursue their goal. They may take classes at a two-year community college to earn their ASN. They will then qualify to continue their education at a university if they wish to earn a BSN. Another way to become an RN is to take a one-year course of study at a community college to earn a Licensed Practical Nurse diploma. Once this is completed, the student usually qualifies for the school’s ASN program, which takes one more year of study to complete. The third option is to seek admittance on a probationary basis and earn satisfactory grades in the college courses.
Students are encouraged to apply around one year before they want to begin classes.
Here are some of the RN programs in Iowa that lead to an ASN:
Des Moines Area Community College
Department of Nursing
1100 7th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
Eastern Iowa Community College
Nursing Department
306 West River Drive
Davenport, IA 52801
Hawkeye Community College
Department of Nursing
1501 East Orange Road
P.O. Box 8015
Waterloo, IA 50704-8015
Indian Hills Community College
School of Nursing
623 Indian Hills Drive, Building 12
Ottumwa, IA 52501
Iowa Central Community College
Department of Nursing
One Triton Circle
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Iowa Lakes Community College
Nursing Department
2111 Highway 169 North
Algona, IA 50511
Iowa Valley Community College District
Health Occupations Division
3702 South Center Street
Marshalltown, IA 50158
Iowa Western Community College
Nursing Department
2700 College Road
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Kirkwood Community College
Health Science Department
6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Department of Nursing
928 6th Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309-1239
Northeast Iowa Community College
Nursing Department
1625 Highway 150
P.O. Box 400
Calmar, IA 52132-0400
North Iowa Area Community College
Nursing Department
500 College Drive
Mason City, IA 50401-7299
Northwest Iowa Community College
Nursing Department
603 West Park Street
Sheldon, Iowa 51201
Southeastern Community College
Nursing Department
1500 West Agency Road
West Burlington, IA 52655
Southwestern Community College
Nursing Education Department
1501 W. Townline St.
Creston, IA 50801
St. Luke’s College
Department of Nursing Education
2720 Stone Park Boulevard
Sioux City, Iowa 51104
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Nursing and Allied Health Division
4647 Stone Avenue
Sioux City, IA 51106
The following list represents some of the BSN programs in Iowa:
Allen College
School of Nursing
1825 Logan Avenue
Waterloo, IA 50703
Briar Cliff University
Department of Nursing
3303 Rebecca Street
Sioux City, Iowa 51104
Clarke University
Department of Nursing and Health
1550 Clarke Drive
Dubuque, IA 52001
Coe College
Nursing Department
1220 First Avenue NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Dordt College
Nursing Department
498 4th Avenue NE
Sioux Center, IA 51250-1606
Grand View University
Division of Nursing
1200 Grandview Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50316
Iowa Wesleyan University
Department of Nursing
601 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, Iowa 52641
Luther College
Department of Nursing
700 College Drive
Decorah, IA 52101
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Nursing Division
928 6th Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309-1239
Morningside College
Department of Nursing
1501 Morningside Avenue
Sioux City, Iowa 51106
Mount Mercy University
Department of Nursing
1330 Elmhurst Drive NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-4797
Northwestern College
Department of Nursing
101 7th Street SW
Orange City, IA 51042
St. Ambrose University
Department of Nursing
518 West Locust Street
Davenport, Iowa 52803
University of Dubuque
Nursing Department
2000 University Avenue
Dubuque, IA 52001-5099
University of Iowa
College of Nursing
101 Jessup Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242
Upper Iowa University
Nursing Education Department
605 Washington St.
P.O. Box 1857
Fayette, IA 52142
For reviews and a full list of RN programs in the state, please visit Nursing Schools in Iowa.